[Circulating immune complexes in the diagnosis of allergic reactions of the immune-complex type]

The content of intermediate and small circulating immune complexes (iCIC and sCIC), the classical path of compliment activation (CCA), the concentration of C4 and C3 compliment components as well as the levels of IgM, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 in blood serum were examined in patients with atopic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis concomitant with hypersensitivity to the Candida albicans allergen of the immediate and mixed (immediate and delayed) types. A significantly reduced concentration of sCIC, sCIC/iCIC(sCIC/iCIC), CCA and of the C4 content as well as a pronouncedly increased IgM concentration was typical of the patients with the mixed allergic reaction, which made them markedly different from the virtually healthy subjects and from patients with the immediate type of hypersensitivity. The most pronounced differences (p < 0.001) between the group of patients with the mixed type of allergic reaction and two other groups were those related with the sCIC/iCIC ratio index. Considering the study results, it can be assumed that the determination of the sCIC/iCIC could be used as an extra criterion in the laboratory diagnosis of the 3d (immunocomplex) types of allergic reaction as made in patients with atopic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis with hypersensitivity to the C. albicans allergen.